Update

When we last heard from Tara Wheeler, we were coming to terms with the fact we weren't going to have a bald Miss Virginia.

The beauty queen pledged to shave her head if she could raise $500,000 for pediatric cancer research -- a deliberately high mark set by Miss Virginia pageant officials, who don't take radical coiffure lightly. Despite Wheeler's energetic efforts and a burst of national media attention, she fell significantly short of the fundraising goal. Still, she promised that once she ended her reign, she'd cut it all off anyway in solidarity with sick kids who lose their hair to chemo.

Last month, she crowned a new Miss Virginia -- Caressa Cameron, who, like Wheeler, was originally Miss Arlington -- and ... well, Tara, you've still got your hair!

"The plan," she told us, "is to shave it in September" to mark Pediatric Cancer Month and find every possible money-raising opportunity. Meanwhile, with her pageant days over, Wheeler is now looking for jobs as a sportscaster. A bald anchor? Almost as good.

Tara Wheeler should be ashamed for backing down from her challenge. A local actor, Julie Bain is shaving her head on Youtube on Wednesday, July 16th for two charities and even though she may not reach her charitable goal, she is still going through with it. If Tara has a clue, she should visit http://www.art-stream.org/ and see what a truly gutsy person would do!